Cleaner

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cleaner. A cleaner according to an aspect may include a battery housing and a battery separably coupled to the battery housing. The battery may include a frame, a plurality of battery cells received in the frame, a battery holder surrounding the plurality of battery cells and including a separation wall to divide the plurality of battery cells in a plurality of rows.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/328,144, filed on Feb. 25, 2019, which is a National Stageapplication under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No.PCT/KR2017/006115, filed on Jun. 13, 2017, which claims the benefit ofApplication No. 10-2016-0183907, filed on Dec. 30, 2016 and ApplicationNo. 10-2016-0108320, filed on Aug. 25, 2016. The disclosures of theprior applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner.

BACKGROUND

In general, a vacuum cleaner is a device that suctions dust and dirt onsurfaces to be cleaned, using a suction motor in the main body, and thenfilters the dust and dirt in the main body.

Cleaners may be classified into a manual cleaner that a user moves inperson for cleaning and an automatic cleaner that automatically movesfor cleaning.

Manual cleaners may fall into, depending on the types, a canistercleaner, an upright cleaner, a handy cleaner, and a stick cleaner.

Meanwhile, in the related art, a handheld vacuum cleaner has beendisclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1127088 (registered on 8 Mar. 2012).

The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a suction pipe, an airflowgenerator, a cyclone, a power supply, and a handle.

The cyclone is disposed between the handle and the suction pipe, theairflow generator is disposed right over the handle, and the powersupply is disposed right under the handle. Accordingly, the airflowgenerator and the power supply are disposed behind the cyclone.

The power supply includes a plurality of battery cells laid in parallel.There is a problem in the prior art document in that it is required todisassemble the cleaner in order to separate the power supply from thecleaner.

Further, since the battery cells are laid in parallel on one layer,there is a problem in that the volume occupied by the power supply islarge and the maximum voltage that the power supply can supply to asuction motor is small.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a cleaner that users can moreconveniently use by distributing the overall weight.

The present disclosure provides a cleaner in which the maximum chargingvoltage of a battery can be increased and that can be made compact.

The present disclosure provides a cleaner of which the performance ofcooling a battery is improved.

The present disclosure provides a cleaner in which battery cells can beseparately arranged in a plurality of lines.

A cleaner of present invention includes a battery housing and a batteryseparably coupled to the battery housing.

The cleaner may further include a suction motor generating a suctionforce and a handle having an operation unit for inputting instructionsto turn on or off the suction motor.

The battery housing may be disposed at a side of the handle. Forexample, the battery housing may be disposed under the handle and thebattery may be separated downward from the battery housing.

The battery may include a frame, a plurality of battery cells receivedin the frame, a battery holder surrounding the plurality of batterycells and including a separation wall to divide the plurality of batterycells in a plurality of rows.

A direction in which the battery is mounted in the battery housing maybe parallel with an extension direction of the plurality of batterycells in a state in which the plurality of battery cells is supported bya battery holder.

The battery may further include a battery management unit to managevoltage of the plurality of battery cells; and a barrier disposedbetween the plurality of battery cells and the battery management unit.

The battery holder may include: a first holder disposed at the upperportion of the separation wall and surrounding the upper portions of theplurality of battery cells; and a second holder disposed at the lowerportion of the separation wall and surrounding the lower portions of theplurality of battery cells.

The holders each may include: a plurality of first cell casessurrounding the entire circumference of some of the plurality of batterycells; and a plurality of second cell cases surrounding only portions ofthe circumference of another of the plurality of battery cells such thatthe battery cells are arranged in a plurality of rows in a zigzagpattern.

In this embodiment, two adjacent second cell cases are spaced apart fromeach other with respect to the separation wall there between and adistance between the centers of two adjacent second cell cases isshorter than a distance between the centers of two adjacent first cellcases.

In order to reduce the size of the battery holder, the holders each mayfurther include a third cell case disposed an area corresponding to thearea between plurality of second cell cases and surrounding portions ofthe circumference of another of the plurality of battery cells.

The frame may include contact ribs that can come in contact batterycells exposed out of the second cell case and the third cell case inorder to prevent the battery cells supported by the battery holder frommoving in the frame.

The contact ribs may be rounded with a curvature corresponding to thecurvature of the battery cells in order to increase the contact areabetween the battery cells and the contact rib.

The battery management unit may include a circuit board, the barrier mayinclude a plate spaced apart from the circuit board, and an extensiondirection of each of the plurality of battery cells may cross thecircuit board and the plate.

The barrier may include a guide protrusion protruding from the plate toguide the position to be fastened to the circuit board, and a fasteningboss to which a fastener passing through the circuit board is fastened,in order to improve work efficiency when the circuit board and thebarrier are combined.

The circuit board may include a protrusion through-hole through whichthe guide protrusion passes, and a fastening hole through which thefastener passes.

The cleaner may further include: an upper conductor connecting twobattery cells over the plurality of battery cells; and an upperconductive plate connected to the upper conductor and connected to thebattery management unit.

The plate may include a first guide portion guiding the upper conductiveplate to the circuit board and the circuit board may include a secondguide portion through which the upper conductive plate passes so thatthe upper conductive plate can be connected to the battery managementunit.

The cleaner may further include: a lower conductor connecting twobattery cells under the plurality of battery cells; a lower conductiveplate connected to the lower conductor; and a wire connecting the lowerconductive plate and the battery management unit.

The plate may include a first wire guiding portion guiding the wire andthe circuit board may include a second wire guiding portion guiding thewire so that the wire can be connected with the battery management unit.

The frame may include a movement prevention rib protruding from theinner side to prevent movement of the barrier and the battery managementunit, and the circuit board may include a rib slot through which themovement prevention rib passes. The barrier may include a rib receivinggroove in which the rib passing through the rib slot is received.

The frame may include a movement prevention rib protruding from theinner side to prevent movement of the barrier and the battery managementunit, the barrier may include a reinforcing rib extending upward fromthe edge of the plate, and the movement prevention rib may be seated onthe reinforcing rib.

According to the proposed invention, since the battery can be separatedfrom the battery housing, it is possible to separately charge thebattery on a cradle.

Further, since the battery cells are arranged in a zigzag pattern, evenif the number of the battery cells is increased, the degree ofincreasing in size of the battery is small, so the battery can be madecompact and the maximum charging volume can be increased.

Further, since the holders surrounding the battery cells are disposed tosurround portions of the battery cells, the size of the battery holderscan be reduced, so the battery can be made compact.

Further, even if the battery cells in any one row of the plurality ofrows are burned, it is possible to prevent the battery cells in otherrows from being burned by the separation wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaner according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cleaner according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaner according to an embodimentof the present invention when seen from under the cleaner.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cleaner according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view when a battery according to an embodiment of thepresent invention has been separated from a battery housing.

FIG. 7 is a view when an inner housing according to an embodiment of thepresent invention has been separated from the battery housing.

FIG. 8 is a view after the inner housing shown in FIG. 7 is coupled tothe battery housing.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the battery according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the battery shown in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the battery according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a battery holder of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the battery holder shown in FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a second frame according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view after a battery holder and battery cells areseated inside the second frame.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a barrier according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the battery shown in FIG. 9 with afirst frame removed.

FIG. 18 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the battery which showsthe arrangement relationship between movement prevention ribs of thefirst frame and a battery management unit.

FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the battery which showsthe arrangement relationship between the movement prevention ribs of thefirst frame and the battery management unit.

FIG. 20 is a view showing the battery shown in FIG. 9 with a secondframe removed.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing battery terminals according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a front view of one of the battery terminals of the presentinvention.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the battery inserted in thebattery housing.

FIG. 24 is a view when a user has operated a first coupling portion anda second coupling portion to separate the battery from the batteryhousing.

FIG. 25 is a view showing a case in which a battery according to anotherembodiment of the present invention is mounted on a battery housing.

FIG. 26 is a view showing a case in which the battery is separated fromthe battery housing in FIG. 25 .

FIG. 27 is a view showing a case in which a battery according to anembodiment is mounted on a battery housing.

FIG. 28 is a view showing a case in which the battery according to anembodiment is separated from the battery housing.

FIG. 29 is a view showing the state of a switch on the battery housingwhen the battery according to another embodiment is separated from thebattery housing.

FIG. 30 is a view showing the configuration of a cleaner power controlcircuit according to another embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a view showing the state of the power control circuit whenthe switch is opened in FIG. 30 .

FIG. 32 is a view showing the state of the power control circuit whenthe switch is closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Itshould be noted that when components in the drawings are designated byreference numerals, the same components have the same reference numeralsas far as possible even though the components are illustrated indifferent drawings. Further, in description of embodiments of thepresent disclosure, when it is determined that detailed descriptions ofwell-known configurations or functions disturb understanding of theembodiments of the present disclosure, the detailed descriptions will beomitted.

Also, in the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure,the terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) may be used. Each ofthe terms is merely used to distinguish the corresponding component fromother components, and does not delimit an essence, an order or asequence of the corresponding component. It should be understood thatwhen one component is “connected”, “coupled” or “joined” to anothercomponent, the former may be directly connected or jointed to the latteror may be “connected”, coupled” or “joined” to the latter with a thirdcomponent interposed there between.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaner according toan embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of thecleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is aperspective view of the cleaner according to an embodiment of thepresent invention when seen from under the cleaner, and FIG. 5 is across-sectional view of the cleaner according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 , a cleaner 1 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may include a main body 2.

The cleaner 1 may further include a suction inlet 5 coupled to the frontof the main body 2. The suction inlet 5 can guide air containing dustinto the main body 2.

The cleaner 1 may further include a handle unit 3 coupled to the mainbody 2. The handle unit 3 may be positioned opposite to the suctioninlet 5 on the main body 2.

That is, the main body 2 may be disposed between the suction inlet 5 andthe handle unit 3.

The main body 2 may include a first body 10 and a second body 12 on thefirst body 10. The first body 10 and the second body 12 may be directlycombined or may be indirectly combined through an intermediate member.

The first body 10 and the second body 12 may be, though not limitedthereto, formed in a cylindrical shape.

The first body 10 and the second body 12 are open at the top and thebottom, respectively. That is, the bodies 10 and 12 may have a topopening and a bottom opening, respectively.

The suction inlet 5 may be coupled to the main body 2 such that thecenter of the suction inlet 5 is positioned approximately at theboundary between the first body 10 and the second body 12.

The main body 2 may further include a dust separation unit thatseparates dust from air suctioned through the suction inlet 5.

The dust separation unit may include a first cyclone unit 180 that canseparate dust, for example, using cyclonic flow. The first body 10includes the first cyclone unit 180 in this configuration.

The air and dust suctioned through the suction inlet 5 helically flowalong the inner side of the first cyclone unit 180.

The axis of the cyclonic flow in the first cyclone unit 110 mayvertically extend.

The dust separation unit may further include a second cyclone unit 130that secondarily separates dust from the air discharged out of the firstcyclone unit 110. The second cyclone unit 130 may be disposed inside thefirst cyclone unit 110 to minimize the size of the dust separation unit.The second cyclone unit 130 may include a plurality of cyclone bodiesarranged in a raw.

As another example, the dust separation unit may include one cycloneunit, in which the axis of the cyclonic flow may also vertically extend.

The first body 10 functions as a dust container that stores dustseparated by the cyclone units 110 and 130.

The main body 2 may further include a body cover 16 for opening/closingthe bottom of the first body 10. The body cover 16 can open/close thefirst body 10 by being rotated.

At least a portion of the second cyclone unit 130 may be positionedinside the first body 10.

A dust storage guide 124 that guides the dust separated by the secondcyclone unit 130 to be stored may be disposed in the first body 10. Thedust storage guide 124 may be coupled to the bottom of the secondcyclone unit 130 in contact with the top of the body cover 16.

The dust storage guide 124 may divide the internal space of the firstbody 10 into a first dust storage part 121 where the dust separated bythe first cyclone unit 110 is stored and a second dust storage part 123where the dust separated by the second cyclone unit 130 is stored.

The internal space of the dust storage guide 124 is the second duststorage part 123 and the space between the dust storage guide 124 andthe first body 10 is the first dust storage part 121.

The body cover 16 can open/close both of the first dust storage part 121and the second dust storage part 123.

The cleaner 1 may further include a suction motor 20 for generatingsuction force and a battery 40 for supplying power to the suction motor20.

The suction motor 20 may be disposed in the second body 12. At least aportion of the suction motor 20 may be disposed over the dust separationunit. Accordingly, the suction motor 20 is disposed over the first body10.

The suction motor 20 may communicate with an outlet of the secondcyclone unit 130.

To this end, the main body 2 may further include a discharge guide 28connected to the second cyclone unit 130 and a flow guide 22 thatcommunicates with the discharge guide 28.

For example, the discharge guide 28 is disposed on the second cycloneunit 130 and the flow guide 22 is disposed over the discharge guide 28.

Further, at least a portion of the suction motor 20 is positioned insidethe flow guide 22.

Accordingly, the axis of the cyclonic flow in the first cyclone unit 110may pass through the suction motor 20.

When the suction motor 20 is disposed over the second cyclone unit 130,the air discharged from the second cyclone unit 130 can flow directly tothe suction motor 20, so the channel between the dust separation unitand the suction motor 20 can be minimized.

The suction motor 20 may include a rotary impeller 200. The impeller 200may be fitted on a shaft 202. The shaft 202 is vertically disposed.

An extension line from the shaft 202 (which may be considered as therotational axis of the impeller 200) may pass through the first body 10.The rotational axis of the impeller 200 and the axis of the cyclonicflow in the first cyclone unit 180 may be on the same line.

According to the present invention, there is the advantage that the paththrough which the air discharged from the dust separation unit, that is,the air discharged upward from the second cyclone unit 130 flows to thesuction motor 20 can be reduced and a change in direction of air can bedecreased, so a loss of airflow can be reduced.

As the loss of airflow is reduced, suction force can be increased andthe lifetime of the battery 40 for supplying power to the suction motor20 can be increased.

The cleaner 1 may further include an upper motor housing 26 covering aportion of the top of the suction motor 20 and a lower motor housing 27covering a portion of the bottom of the suction motor 20.

The suction motor 20 may be disposed inside the motor housings 26 and 27and the flow guide 22 may be disposed to cover the upper motor housing26.

At least a portion of the flow guide 22 may be spaced apart from theupper motor housing 26. Further, at least a portion of the flow guide 22may be spaced apart from the second body 12.

Accordingly, a first air passage 232 is defined by the inner side of theflow guide 22 and the outer side of the upper motor housing 26 and asecond air passage 234 is defined by the outer side of the flow guide 22and the inner side of the second body 12.

The air discharged from the second cyclone unit 130 flows to the suctionmotor 20 through the first air passage 232 and the air discharged fromthe suction motor 20 flows through the second air passage 234 and isthen discharged outside. Accordingly, the second air passage 234functions as an exhaust channel.

The handle unit 3 may include a handle 30 for a user to hold and abattery housing 60 under the handle 30.

The handle 30 may be disposed behind the suction motor 20.

As for directions, with respect to the suction motor 20 in the cleaner1, the direction in which the suction inlet 5 is positioned is the frontdirection and the direction in which the handle 30 is positioned is therear direction.

The battery 40 may be disposed behind the first body 10. Accordingly,the suction motor 20 and the battery 40 may be arranged not tovertically overlap each other and may be disposed at different heights.

According to the present invention, since the suction motor 20 that isheavy is disposed ahead of the handle 30 and the battery 40 that isheavy is disposed behind the handle 30, so weight can be uniformlydistributed throughout the cleaner 1. It is possible to prevent injuriesto the user's wrist when a user cleans with the handle 30 in his/herhand. That is, since the heavy components are distributed at the frontand rear portions and at different heights in the cleaner 1, it ispossible to prevent the center of gravity of the cleaner 1 fromconcentrating on any one side.

Since the battery 40 is disposed under the handle 30 and the suctionmotor 20 is disposed in front of the handle 30, there is no componentover the handle 30. That is, the top of the handle 30 forms a portion ofthe external appearance of the top of the cleaner 1.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent any component of the cleaner 1from coming in contact with the user's arm while the user cleans withthe handle 30 in his/her hand.

The handle 30 may include a first extension 310 extending vertically tobe held by a user and a second extension 320 extending toward thesuction motor 20 over the first extension 310. The second extension 320may at least partially horizontally extend.

A stopper 312 for preventing a user's hand holding the first extension310 from moving in the longitudinal direction of the first extension 310(vertically in FIG. 2 ) may be formed on the first extension 310. Thestopper 312 may extend toward the suction inlet 5 from the firstextension 310.

The stopper 312 is spaced apart from the second extension 320.Accordingly, a user is supposed to hold the first extension 310, withsome of the fingers over the stopper 312 and the other fingers under thestopper 312.

For example, the stopper 312 may be positioned between the index fingerand the middle finger.

According to this arrangement, when a user holds the first extension310, the longitudinal axis A1 of the suction inlet 5 may pass throughthe user's wrist.

When the longitudinal axis A1 of the suction inlet 5 passes through theuser's wrist and the user's arm is stretched, the longitudinal axis A1of the suction inlet 5 may be substantially aligned with the user'sstretched arm. Accordingly, there is the advantage in this state thatthe user uses minimum force when pushing or pulling the cleaner 1 withthe handle 30 in his/her hand.

The handle 30 may include an operation unit 326. For example, theoperation unit 326 may be disposed on an inclined surface of the secondextension 320. It is possible to input instructions to turn on/off thecleaner (suction motor) through the operation unit 326.

The operation unit 326 may be disposed to face a user. The operationunit 326 may be disposed opposite to the stopper 312 with the handle 30there between.

The operation unit 326 is positioned higher than the stopper 312.

Accordingly, a user can easily operate the operation unit 326 withhis/her thumb with the first extension 310 in his/her hand.

Further, since the operation unit 326 is positioned outside the firstextension 310, it is possible to prevent the operation unit 326 frombeing unexpectedly operated when a user cleans with the first extension310 in his/her hand.

A display unit 322 for showing operational states may be disposed on thesecond extension 320. The display unit 322 may be, for example, disposedon the top of the second extension 320. Accordingly, a user can easilycheck the display unit 322 on the top of the second extension 320 whilecleaning. The display 322, for example, can show the remaining capacityof the battery 40 and the intensity of the suction motor.

The display unit 322, though not limited, may include a plurality oflight emitting devices. The light emitting devices may be spaced apartfrom each other in the longitudinal direction of the second extension320.

The battery housing 60 may be disposed under the first extension 310.

The battery 40 may be detachably received in the battery housing 60. Forexample, the battery 40 may be inserted into the battery housing 60 fromunder the battery housing 60.

The rear side of the battery housing 60 and the rear side of the firstextension 310 may form a continuous surface. Accordingly, the batteryhousing 60 and the first extension 310 can be shown like a single unit.

When the battery 40 is inserted in the battery housing 60, the bottom ofthe battery 40 may be exposed to the outside. Accordingly, when thecleaner 1 is placed on the floor, the battery 40 can be in contact withthe floor.

According to this structure, there is the advantage that the battery 40can be directly separated from the battery housing 60.

Further, since the bottom of the battery 40 is exposed to the outside,the bottom of the battery 40 can come in direct contact with the airoutside the cleaner 1, so the battery 40 can be more efficiently cooled.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the cleaner 1 may further include a filter unit 50having air exits 522 for discharging the air that has passed through thesuction motor 20. For example, the air exits 522 may include a pluralityof openings and the openings may be circumferentially arranged.Accordingly, the air exist 522 may be arranged in a ring shape.

The filter unit 50 may be detachably coupled to the top of the main body2. The filter unit 50 may be detachably coupled to the second body 12.

When the filter unit 50 is combined with the main body 2, a portion ofthe filter unit 50 is positioned outside the second body 12.Accordingly, a portion of the filter unit 50 is inserted in the mainbody 2 through the open top of the main body 2 and the other portionprotrudes outside from the main body 2.

The height of the main body 2 may be substantially the same as theheight of the handle 30. Accordingly, the filter unit 50 protrudesupward from the main body 2, so a user can easily hold and separate thefilter unit 50.

When the filter unit 50 is combined with the main body 2, the air exits522 are positioned at the upper portion of the filter unit 50.Accordingly, the air discharged from the suction motor 20 is dischargedupward from the main body 2.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the airdischarged from the air exits 522 from flowing to a user while the usercleans using the cleaner 1.

The main body 2 may further include a pre-filter 29 for filtering theair flowing into the suction motor 20. The pre-filter 29 may be disposedinside the flow guide 22. Further, the pre-filter 29 is seated over theupper motor housing 16 and may surround a portion of the upper motorhousing 26. That is, the upper motor housing 26 may include a filtersupport for supporting the pre-filter 29.

FIG. 6 is a view when a battery according to an embodiment of thepresent invention has been separated from a battery housing, FIG. 7 is aview when an inner housing according to an embodiment of the presentinvention has been separated from the battery housing, and FIG. 8 is aview after the inner housing shown in FIG. 7 is coupled to the batteryhousing.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the battery according to an embodimentof the present invention and FIG. 10 is a front view of the batteryshown in FIG. 9 .

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10 , the battery housing 60 may include an outerhousing 600 that is integrally formed with the handle 30 and an innerhousing 610 that can be inserted in the outer housing 600.

The inner housing 610 may be inserted a lower side of the outer housing600. The inner housing 610 provides a battery chamber 611 for receivingthe battery 40.

The inner housing 610 may be fixed to one or more of the outer housing600 and the first body 10. Further, the battery 40 may be coupled to theinner housing 610.

According to the present embodiment, the inner housing 610 is insertedinto the outer housing 600 and then the battery 40 is inserted to becoupled to the inner housing 610, so it is possible to prevent the outerhousing 600 from deforming or to prevent the outer housing 600 frombeing damaged when inserting or separating the battery 40.

Obviously, it may be possible to integrally form the inner housing 610with the outer housing 600 without separately forming the inner housing610.

The inner housing 610 may have a pair of hinge coupling portions 620 towhich a hinge 162 of the body cover 16 is coupled. The hinge couplingportions 620 may be spaced at a predetermined distance from each other.Accordingly, a space 622 may be formed between the hinge couplingportions 620.

The inner housing 610 may further include a body fastening portion 642to be fastened to the first body 10.

The inner housing 610 may further include first main body terminals 630for charging the battery 40 coupled to the inner housing 610. It ispossible to bring charging stand terminals in contact with the firstmain body terminals 630 by placing the cleaner 1 on a charging stand(not shown).

The first main body terminals 630 are disposed on the bottoms of thehinge coupling portions 620, but can be spaced apart from the floor whenthe cleaner 1 is placed on the floor. That is, terminal grooves 623 thatare concave upward are formed on the bottoms of the hinge couplingportions 620 and the first main body terminals 630 can be disposed inthe terminal grooves 623. Accordingly, damage to the first main bodyterminals 630 can be prevented.

Further, since the first main body terminals 630 are disposed in theterminal grooves 623, water cannot come in contact with the first mainbody terminals 630 when the cleaner 1 is placed on a floor.

The battery 40 may include a frame 410 that forms the external shape.The frame 410 and the battery chamber 611 may be formed in shapescorresponding to each other.

The battery 40 may further include a plurality of coupling portions 470and 474. The coupling portions 470 and 474 may include a first couplingportion 470 disposed on a first side of the frame 410 and a secondcoupling portion 474 disposed on a second side of the frame 410. Thefirst coupling portion 470 and the second coupling portion 474, forexample, may be positioned opposite to each other.

The first coupling portion 470 may include a first hook 472. The firstcoupling portion 470 may be movably coupled to the outer side of theframe 410. The first coupling portion 470 can be elastically supportedby an elastic member 473 (see FIG. 23 ) in the frame 410.

A locking rib 640 for locking the first hook 472 of the first couplingportion 470 may be formed between the hinge coupling portions 620.

While the battery 40 is coupled, the first hook 472 of the firstcoupling portion 470 can be locked to the locking rib 640 through thespace 622.

The second coupling portion 474 is integrally formed with the frame 410and can be elastically deformed by external force.

In detail, an extension 475 horizontally extends from the bottom of theframe 410 and the second coupling portion 474 extends upward from theend of the extension 475. The second coupling portion 474 is spaced fromthe outer side of the frame 410 by the extension 475.

That is, a space for deformation is defined between the frame 410 andthe second coupling portion 474. The second coupling portion 474 can beelastically deformed toward the fame 410 by the space.

The second coupling portion 474 may include a second hook 476. Thesecond hook 476 may be thinner than other portion of the second couplingportion 474.

The outer housing 600 has a first exposing hole 602 and the innerhousing 610 has a second exposing hole 612 to expose the second couplingportion 474 to the outside so that the second coupling portion 474 canbe operated with the battery 40 in the battery chamber 611.

Further, a coupling slot 614 for coupling the second hook 476 of thesecond coupling portion 474 may be formed over the second exposing hole612 of the inner housing 610. The coupling slot 614 may be a hole or agroove.

The second hook 476 of the second coupling portion 474 can be insertedinto the locking slot 614 when being inserted in the inner housing 610.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the battery according to anembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a perspective viewshowing a battery holder of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a planview of the battery holder shown in FIG. 12 .

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 13 , the battery 40 may further include aplurality of battery cells 430, a battery holder 440 supporting thebattery cells 430, a battery management unit 480 managing the voltage ofthe battery cells 430, and battery terminals 490 connected to thebattery management unit 480.

The battery cells 430, the battery holder 440, and the batterymanagement unit 480 may be covered by the frame 410.

The battery 40 may further include a barrier 450 disposed between thebattery cells 430 and the battery management unit 480.

The barrier 450 blocks heat transferring from the battery cells 430 tothe battery management unit 480.

The frame 410 may include a first frame 420 and a second frame 460coupled to the lower portion of the first frame 420.

A protrusion 422 is formed on the top of the first frame 420 andterminal holes 424 through which second main body terminals 670 (seeFIG. 23 ) to be described below pass may be formed in the protrusion422.

The terminal holes 424 are formed through the top of the protrusion 422.Accordingly, while the battery 40 is inserted upward into the batteryhosing 60, the second main body terminals 670 (see FIG. 23 ) can beconnected to the battery terminals 490 through the terminal holes 424.

The protrusion 422 may be positioned at a side from the center of thefirst frame 420 so that a user can easily recognize the direction inwhich the battery 40 is inserted into the battery housing 60. Forexample, the protrusion 422 may be positioned closer to the secondcoupling portion 474 between the first coupling portion 470 and thesecond coupling portion 474.

A seat 461 in which the lower end of the first frame 410 is seated maybe formed at the top of the second frame 460.

The battery management unit 480 may be coupled to the top of the barrier450. The battery management unit 480 may include one or more fasteningholes 482 to be fastened to the barrier 450 by fasteners.

The battery holder 440 allows the battery cells 430 to be arranged inerected positions. For example, the longitudinal direction of thebattery cells 430 may be in parallel with the directions in which thebattery 40 is inserted into and separated from the battery housing 60.

The battery holder 440 allows the battery cells 430 to be arranged in aplurality of rows.

For example, the battery cells 430, though not limited, may includeseven battery cells and the battery holder 440 may allow some of theseven battery cells to be arranged in two rows. However, it should benoted that the number of the battery cells 430 is not limited.

The battery holder 440 may have a separation wall 441 for dividing thebattery cells 430 in two separate rows, first holders 442 formed at theupper portion of the separation wall 441, and second holders 445 formedat the lower portion of the separation wall 441.

The first holders 442 surround the upper portions of the battery cells430 and the second holder 445 surround the lower portions of the batterycells 430.

The first holders 442 and the second holders 445 are vertically spacedfrom each other.

According to this configuration of the present embodiment, there is anadvantage in that even if the battery cells 430 in any one of the tworows ignite, the battery cells 430 in the other row are prevented frombeing ignited by the separation wall 441.

Further, heat generated by the battery cells 430 in the two rows can beprevented from influencing each other in other rows by the separationwall 441.

The structure and shape of the second holders 445 are the same as thoseof the first holders 442, so hereafter, only the first holders 442 aredescribed in detail and the description of the first holders 442 isreferred to for the structure and shape of the second holders 445.

The first holders 442 may include cell cases 442 a, 442 b, 443 a, 443 b,and 443 c that surround the upper portions of the battery cells 430.

The battery cells 430 are spaced from each other with the upper portionssurrounded by the cell cases 442 a, 442 b, 443 a, 443 b, and 443 c.

The cell cases 442 a, 442 b, 443 a, 443 b, and 443 c may include firstcell cases 442 a and 442 b that surround the entire outer sides of someof the battery cells 430, second cell cases 443 a and 443 b thatpartially surround the outer sides of some of the battery cells 430, anda third cell case 443 c disposed between the two cell cases 443 a and443 b.

For example, the first cell cases 442 a and 442 b may be formed in acylindrical shape, and the second cell cases 443 a and 443 b and thethird cell case 443 c may be formed in a C-shape having an opening 443d.

In detail, two first cell cases 442 a and 442 b are in contact with eachother, in which any one first cell case 442 a surrounds a battery cell430 in the first row and the other first cell case 442 b surround abattery cell 430 in the second row.

Further, two second cell cases 443 a and 443 b may be horizontallyspaced from each other with the separation wall 441 there between andmay be connected to connectors 444 a and 444 b.

The connectors 444 a and 444 b may include a first connector 444 avertically connecting the two second cell cases 443 a and 443 b and asecond connector 444 b horizontally extending and connecting the twosecond cell cases 443 a and 443 b. The second connector 444 b may be incontact with the upper portion of the separation wall 441.

By the connectors 444 a and 444 b, not only two spaced second cell cases443 a and 443 b are connected, but the strength is improved.

The distance between the centers of the two second cell cases 443 a and443 b is longer than the distance between the centers of the two firstcell cases 442 a and 442 b.

The first cell cases 442 a and 442 b may be disposed between two groupsof second cell cases 443 a and 443 b.

That is, a second cell case, a first cell case, and a second cell casemay be sequentially arranged. According to this arrangement, the batterycells 430 can be arranged in a zigzag pattern in each row, so thehorizontal length of the battery 40 can be reduced.

Since the battery cells 430 are arranged in a zigzag pattern, even ifthe number of the battery cells 430 is increased, the size of thebattery 40 is not increased not that much, so the maximum chargeablevoltage of the battery 40 can be increased.

Further, even if two second cell case 443 a and 443 b are spaced fromeach other with the separation wall 441 there between, the two secondcell cases 443 a and 443 b, so the size of the first holder 442 can bereduced, thus the size of the frame 410 can be reduced.

The third cell case 443 c is disposed between two spaced second cellcases 443 a and 443 b. Therefore, according to the present invention,the horizontal length of the battery 40 can be reduced.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a second frame according to an embodiment ofthe present invention and FIG. 15 is a plan view after the batteryholder and the battery cells are seated inside the second frame.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15 , the second frame 460 may have a supportflange 462 for supporting the lower ends of the inner housing 610 andthe outer housing 600 with the battery 40 inserted in the batteryhousing 60.

The support flange 462 may horizontally extend outward from the bottomof the second frame 460.

A coupling body 479 for coupling the first coupling portion 470 isformed on one side around the second frame 460 and the second couplingportion 474 is formed on another side around the second frame 460.

The second frame 460 may further include contact ribs 463, 464, and 465being in contact with the battery cells 430 retained in the batteryholder 440.

The contact ribs 463, 464, and 465 prevent horizontal movement of thebattery cells 430 in the frame 410 in contact with the battery cells430.

The contact ribs 463, 464, and 465 may include first contact ribs 463disposed at corners of the second frame 460, second contact ribs 464being in contact with the battery cells 430 in the second cell cases 443a and 443 b disposed between the first cell cases 442 a and 442 b andthe third cell case 443 c, and a third contact rib 465 being in contactwith the battery cell 430 in the third cell case 443 c.

As described above, since the second cell cases 443 a and 443 b and thethird cell case 443 c have the openings 443 d, when the battery cells430 are fitted in the second cell cases 443 a and 443 b and the thirdcell case 443 c, the battery cells 430 are partially exposed to theoutside, and accordingly, the contact ribs 463, 464, and 465 can come incontact with the battery cells 430.

The contact ribs 463, 464, and 465 may be rounded with a curvaturecorresponding to the curvature of the outer sides of the battery cells430 to stably in contact with the battery cells 430.

When the battery holder 440 is disposed inside the second frame 460, aportion of the battery holder 440 may be spaced apart from the secondframe 460. Accordingly, the space between the battery holder 440 and thesecond frame 460 functions as a heat dissipation space for heat from thebattery cells 430 to be naturally dissipated.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the barrier according to an embodimentof the present invention, FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing thebattery shown in FIG. 9 with a first frame removed, FIG. 18 is ahorizontal cross-sectional view of the battery which shows thearrangement relationship between movement prevention ribs of the firstframe and a battery management unit, and FIG. 19 is a verticalcross-sectional view of the battery which shows the arrangementrelationship between the movement prevention ribs of the first frame andthe battery management unit.

Referring to FIGS. 16 to 19 , the barrier 450 may include a flat plate451.

The plate 451 is disposed over the battery cells 430 to block heattransferring from the battery cells 430 to the battery management unit480.

The barrier 450 may further include an outer rib 452 protruding upwardalong the edge of the plate 451. The outer rib 452 increases thestrength of the barrier 450.

The battery management unit 480 may include a circuit board 481 and thebattery terminals 490 may be directly formed on the circuit board 481.Pin holes 483 through which terminal connection pins to be describedbelow pass may be formed at the battery management unit 480.

The circuit board 481 may be coupled to the barrier 450 over the plate451. The circuit board 481 and the plate 451 are arranged in paralleland spaced from each other.

The longitudinal direction of the battery cell 430 may cross the circuitboard 481 and the plate 451.

While the battery 40 is inserted into the battery housing 60, the secondmain body terminals 670 (see FIG. 23 ) are coupled to the batteryterminals 490. When the second main body terminals 670 (see FIG. 23 )are coupled to the battery terminals 490, a downward force may beapplied to the battery terminals 490. The pressure applied to thebattery terminals 490 may be transmitted to the circuit board 481 andthe circuit board 481 is spaced apart from the plate 451, so when thecircuit board 481 is pressed down, the circuit board 481 can bedeformed, and in this case, the circuit board 481 may be broken.

In the present embodiment, the barrier 450 may further include ananti-deformation rib 453 extending upward from the plate 451 andpreventing deformation of the battery management unit 480 in order toprevent breakage of the circuit board 481.

When the circuit board 481 is combined with the barrier 450, theanti-deformation rib 453 may be in contact with the circuit board 481,adjacent to the pin holes 483 of the circuit board 481.

Alternatively, the anti-deformation rib 453 may be disposed close to thecircuit board 481, and it may be brought in contact with the bottom ofthe circuit board 481 when the circuit board 481 is pressed down.

The barrier 450 may further include one or more fastening bosses 454 tobe fastened to the circuit board 481 by fasteners. The fastening bosses454 may extend upward on the plate 451.

The fastening bosses 454 may be positioned inside the outer rib 452 andmay be formed integrally with the outer rib 452.

The fastening bosses 454 protrude higher than the outer rib 452 from theplate 451 so that the outer rib 452 and the circuit board 481 can bespaced from each other when the barrier 450 and the circuit board 481are fastened.

The plate 451 may include a guide hole 455 through which a first topconductive plate 433 passes and guide grooves 457 for guiding second topconductive plates 433 a. The guide hole and grooves 455 and 457 guidethe top conductive plates 433 and 433 a to the circuit board 481, sothey may be referred to as, in combination, a first guide.

The circuit board 481 may also include a guide hole 485 (or it may bereferred to as a second guide) through which the first conductive plate433 passes.

Though not shown in the figures, the anodes (+) and the cathodes (−) oftwo adjacent battery cells of the battery cells 430 may be connectedthrough a conductor. The conductive plates 433 and 433 a may beconnected to the conductor connecting the two battery cells 430.

For example, since seven battery cells are provided in the presentinvention, three conductors may connect the anodes (+) and the cathodes(−) of two battery cells and one conductor may be connected to oneelectrode (anode (+) or cathode (−)) of one battery cell, over thebattery cells.

The first top conductive plate 433 may be connected to the top of thecircuit board 481 through the guide holes 485 of the plate 451 and thecircuit board 481.

The second top conductive plates 433 a may be guided upward along theguide grooves 457 and then bent horizontally, whereby they can beconnected to the top of the circuit board 481.

Since the conductive plates 433 and 433 a are connected to the circuitboard 481, the battery management unit 480 can manage the voltage of thebattery cells 430.

The plate 451 may include guide projections 459 for guiding the circuitboard 481 when it is combined with the circuit board 481. The guideprojection 459 may protrude upward from the plate 451. The guideprojections 459 may protrude higher than the outer rib 452 to be able topass through the circuit board 481.

Projection holes 489 through which the guide projections 459 pass may beformed at the circuit board 481.

On the other hand, the first frame 420 may include a plurality ofmovement prevention ribs for preventing moment of the barrier and thebattery management unit 480 inside the first frame 420.

The movement prevention ribs may protrude from the inner side of thefirst frame 420. The movement prevention ribs may include a firstmovement prevention rib 427 and a second movement prevention rib 428.

The circuit board 481 may include a rib slot 488 through which the firstmovement prevention rib 427 passes and the barrier 450 may include a ribreceiving groove 458 in which the first movement prevention rib 427passing through the rib slot 488 is seated.

When the first movement prevention rib 427 is seated in the ribreceiving groove 458, the first movement prevention rib 427 may beseated on the plate 451. The second movement prevention rib 428 may beseated on the outer rib 452.

When the first movement prevention rib 427 is seated in the ribreceiving groove 458 through the rib slot 488 and the second movementprevention rib 428 is seated on the outer rib 452, not only horizontalmovement, but upward movement of the barrier 450 and the batterymanagement unit 480 are restricted.

FIG. 20 is a view showing the battery shown in FIG. 9 with the secondframe removed.

Referring to FIGS. 16, 19 and 20 , a plurality of first bottomconductors 437 may connect the anodes (+) and the cathodes (−) of twobattery cells 430 under the battery cells 430.

For example, since seven battery cells are provided in the presentinvention, three first bottom conductors 437 may connect the anodes (+)and the cathodes (−) of two battery cells and one second bottomconductor 437 a may be connected to one electrode (anode (+) or cathode(−)) of one battery cell, under the battery cells.

First bottom conductive plates 438 may be connected to the first bottomconductors 437. For example, the first bottom conductive plats 438 maybe integrally formed with the first bottom conductors 437 and may bebent upward from the first bottom conductors 437.

Second bottom conductive plates 438 a may be connected to the secondbottom conductors 437 a. For example, the second bottom conductive plats438 a may be integrally formed with the second bottom conductors 437 aand may be bent upward from the second bottom conductors 437 a.

Wires 436 may be connected to the bottom conducive plates 438 and 438 a.The wires 436 may be connected to the circuit board 481.

The barrier 450 may include wire seats 456 in which the wires 436 areseated and the circuit board 481 may include wire holes 486 throughwhich the wires 436 pass.

In the present invention, the wire grooves 456 may be referred to asfirst wire guides and the wire holes 486 may be referred to as secondwire guide.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the battery terminals according toan embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 22 is a front view of abattery terminal of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 17, 21, and 22 , a pair of battery terminals 490 maybe directly disposed on the circuit board 481.

The battery terminals 490 may be erected on the circuit board 481. Thebattery terminals 490 may be partially or fully disposed in theprotrusion 422 of the frame 410.

Accordingly, while the battery 40 is vertically inserted into thebattery housing 60, the second main body terminals 670 (see FIG. 23 )can be coupled to the battery terminals 490.

The battery terminals 490 each may have a base 491 to be installed onthe circuit board 481.

The base 491 may include a plurality of installation pins 491 a, 491 b,and 491 c passing through the pin holes 483 of the circuit board 481.

The installation pins 491 a, 491 b, and 491 c may include a first pin491 a and a second pin 491 b spaced from each other. The first pin 491 aand the second pin 491 b may be arranged to face each other.

The installation pins 491 a, 491 b, and 491 c may include a third pin491 c disposed to cross the first pin 491 a and the second pin 491 b inan area corresponding to the area between the first pin 491 a and thesecond pin 491 b.

When the battery terminals 490 are installed on the circuit board 481and the circuit board 481 is installed over the barrier 450, theanti-deformation rib 453 of the barrier 450 may be positioned in an areabetween a line connecting the first pin 491 a and the second pin 491 b,and the third pin 491 c

Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent deformation of thecircuit board 481 when the battery terminals 490 and the second mainbody terminals 670 (see FIG. 23 ) are combined.

The battery terminals 490 each may have a pair of clip terminals 492 and493 extending upward from the base 491.

The clip terminals 492 and 493 may include a first clip terminal 492 anda second clip terminal 493.

The first clip terminal 492 and the second clip terminal 493 can beelastically deformed on the base 491 and the second main body terminal670 (see FIG. 23 ) are in contact with the first clip terminal 492 andthe second clip terminal 493 between the first clip terminal 492 and thesecond clip terminal 493.

In order for the clip terminals 492 and 493 can be elastically deformedand the second main body terminal 670 (see FIG. 23 ) is positionedbetween the clip terminals 492 and 493, the clip terminals 492 and 493may extend toward each other, as they go upward, and then extend awayfrom each other at a predetermined height.

Accordingly, as the extension directions of the clip terminals 492 and493 are changed, the clip terminals 492 and 493 may have contactportions 497 a and 497 b, respectively. That is, the first clip terminal492 may have a first contact portion 497 a and the second clip terminal493 may have a second contact portion 497 b.

In order to improve contact reliability between the contact portions 497a and 497 b of the clip terminals 492 and 493 and the second main bodyterminal 670 (see FIG. 23 ), a cut portion 494 a and 494 b for dividingthe clip terminals 492 and 493 into a plurality of independentterminals, respectively, may be formed at the clip terminals 492 and493.

When the cut portions 494 a and 494 b are formed at the clip terminals492 and 493 in the present invention, the number of independentterminals of the clip terminals 492 and 493 is increased, so thereliability in contact with the second main body terminal 670 (see FIG.23 ) is improved, but the contact area with the second main bodyterminal 670 (see FIG. 23 ) is decreased, so a short circuit may occurwhen a current is high.

Accordingly, the clip terminals 492 and 493 each have two independentterminals 495 a, 495 b, 496 a, and 496 b horizontally spaced from eachother by the cut portions 494 a and 494 b, respectively.

The first clip terminal 492 includes a first independent terminal 495 aand a second independent terminal 495 b and the second clip terminal 403includes a third independent terminal 496 a and a fourth independentterminal 496 b.

The independent terminals 495 a, 495 b, 496 a, and 496 b have contactportions 497 a and 497 b, respectively. Accordingly, the clip terminalseach have two contact portions 497 a and 497 b in the present invention.

In order to improve contact reliability between the contact portions 497a and 497 b of the clip terminals 492 and 493 and the second main bodyterminal 670 (see FIG. 23 ), the first contact portion 497 a of thefirst clip terminal 492 and the second contact portion 497 b of thesecond clip terminal 493 may be spaced from each other in parallel withthe coupling direction of the second main body terminal 670 (see FIG. 23).

That is, the first contact portion 497 a and the second contact portion497 b may be arranged not to face each other.

In the present invention, for example, the first contact portion 497 aand the second contact portion 497 b may be vertically spaced from eachother.

The horizontal gap between the first contact portion 497 a and thesecond contact portion 497 b is smaller than the thickness of the secondmain body terminal 670 (see FIG. 23 ) and the gap may not be provided.

Alternatively, the first contact portion 497 a and the second contactportion 497 b may be arranged to vertically overlap each other.

According to the present invention, even if the battery 40 is frequentlyinserted in the battery housing 60 and thus the first clip terminal 492and the second clip terminal 493 are deformed away from each other,whereby the restoring force is reduced, the gap between the firstcontact portion 497 a and the second contact portion 497 b can be keptsmaller than the thickness of the second main body terminal 670 (seeFIG. 23 ), so the contact reliability can be improved.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the battery inserted in thebattery housing and FIG. 24 is a view when a user has operated a firstcoupling portion and a second coupling portion to separate the batteryfrom the battery housing.

Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24 , the battery housing 60 may have thereceiving portion 660 for receiving the protrusion 422. The receivingportion 660 may have second main body terminals 670 for coupling to thebattery terminals 490.

In this embodiment, since the second main body terminals 660 areinserted through the terminal holes 424 when the protrusion 422 isinserted into the receiving portion 670, the receiving portion 670guides the protrusion 422 moving upward so that the second main bodyterminals 670 can be stably inserted through the terminal holes 424.

In order to separate the battery from the battery housing 60, a user caninsert fingers into the space 622 defined between the hinge couplingportions 620.

Further, the user can press the first coupling portion 470 toward theframe 410 with the finger. Accordingly, the elastic member 473 contractsand the first hook 472 of the first coupling portion 470 is unlockedfrom the locking rib 640.

Further, the user can unlock the second coupling portion 474 from thebattery housing 60 by operating the second coupling portion 474 exposedto the outside of the battery housing 60.

In detail, the user presses the second coupling portion 474 toward theframe 410. Accordingly, the second coupling portion 474 is bent towardthe frame 410 by the space between the frame 410 and the second couplingportion 474. Therefore, the second hook 476 is pulled out of thecoupling slot 614.

As a result, the first coupling portion 470 and the second couplingportion 474 are moved toward each other by a user, whereby they areunlocked.

Accordingly, a user can unlock the first coupling portion 470 and thesecond coupling portion 474 using two fingers, so the user can easilyseparate the battery 40 downward from the battery housing 60.

According to the present invention, since the battery 40 can beseparated from the battery housing 60, it is possible to place only thebattery 40 on the cradle to charge it.

FIG. 25 is a view showing a case in which a battery according to anotherembodiment of the present invention is mounted on a battery housing andFIG. 26 is a view showing a case in which the battery is separated fromthe battery housing in FIG. 25.

This embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment except for thestructure and method of mounting and separating a battery. Accordingly,only the characteristic configuration of this embodiment is describedhereafter.

Referring to FIG. 25 , the battery 40 may have a plurality of couplingportions 470 a and 474. The coupling portions 470 a and 474 may includea first coupling portion 470 a disposed on a side of the frame 410 and asecond coupling portion 474 disposed on the other side of the frame 410.The first coupling portion 470 a and the second coupling portion 474,for example, may be positioned opposite to each other.

The second coupling portion 474 of this embodiment is the same as thecoupling portion of the first embodiment, so it is not described indetail.

The first coupling portion 470 a, different from the first couplingportion 470 of the previous embodiment, is not movably coupled to theframe 410, but may be fixed to the frame 410. Alternatively, the firstcoupling portion 470 a may be integrally formed with the frame 410. Thefirst coupling portion 470 a may have a first hook 472 a.

Unlike the previous embodiment, the first hook 472 a of the firstcoupling portion 470 a can be locked to a locking rib 640 when thebattery 40 is mounted in the battery housing 60 without operating thefirst coupling portion 470 a.

Further, the first hook 472 a and the locking rib 640 can be unlockedwhen the battery 40 is separated from the battery housing 60 withoutoperating the first coupling portion 470 a.

The battery 40 can be separated out of the battery housing 60 by pivot(or tilting) of the battery 40 in a state in which the battery 40 isreceived in the battery housing 60.

For example, as shown in FIG. 26 , a user can pull out the second hook476 from the coupling slot 614 by operating the second coupling portion474 and then can pivot (tilt) the battery 40 in the direction of anarrow C while pulling it down.

Accordingly, the first hook 472 a and the locking rib 640 are unlocked,so the battery 40 can be separated from the battery housing 60.

The battery terminals 490 and the second main body terminals 670 shouldbe disconnected to separate the battery 40 from the battery housing 60.

One or more of the battery terminals 490 and the second main bodyterminals 670 should be elastically deformed to separate the battery 40from the battery housing 60 by pivot.

In the present invention, the battery terminals 490 have a plurality ofclip terminals, as described in the previous embodiment, for easyelastic deformation of the battery terminals 490.

The second main body terminals 670 vertical extend and the clipterminals are horizontally arranged.

The second main body terminals 670 include a plurality of terminal pins671 and 672.

The pair of terminal pins 671 and 672 horizontally spaced apart fromeach other. The pair of terminal pins 671 and 672 are larger in widththan thickness. The terminal pins 671 and 672 each have contact surfaces671 a, 671 b and 672 a, 672 b that are brought in contact with the clipterminals, respectively.

The second contact surface 671 b of the first terminal pin 671 and thefirst contact surface 672 a of the second terminal pin 671 are disposedto face each other. By this arrangement, when force is applied to theterminal pins 671 and 672 perpendicularly to the contact surfaces 671 a,671 b, 672 a, and 672 b, the terminal pins 671 and 672 can beelastically deformed.

Further, since the plurality of clip terminals is horizontally arranged,the plurality of clip terminals can be elastically deformed when thebattery 40 is separated.

As shown in FIG. 36 , when the battery 40 is pulled down and pivoted inthe direction of the arrow C in the process of separating the battery40, one or more of the battery terminal 490 and the second main bodyterminals 670 can be elastically separated, and consequently, the secondmain body terminals 670 can be pulled out between a pair of clipterminals of the battery terminals 490. Deformation of clip terminals isexemplified in FIG. 26 .

The method of coupling the battery 40 to the battery housing 60 isopposite to the method of separating the battery 40 from the batteryhousing 60, so it is not described in detail.

Another embodiment is described hereafter.

A cleaner of this embodiment may further include a power control circuitthat can change and provide power supplied from a battery intoappropriate voltage for each of modules in the cleaner. Further, thecleaner is characterized by lowering the electric potential of the powercontrol circuit by discharging the power accumulated in the powercontrol circuit when the battery is separated from the battery housing.

Accordingly, this embodiment is described on the basis of thesecharacteristics and the same configuration as those in the previousembodiments is not described.

FIG. 27 is a view showing a case in which a battery according to anembodiment is mounted on a battery housing and FIG. 28 is a view showinga case in which the battery according to an embodiment is separated fromthe battery housing.

FIG. 29 is a view showing the state of a switch on the battery housingwhen the battery according to another embodiment is separated from thebattery housing.

Referring to FIGS. 27 to 29 , a switch 711 that can sense that thebattery 40 is mounted in or separated from the receiving portion 660 maybe disposed in the battery housing 60.

The switching 711 may include a switch main body 712 fixed to a side ofthe receiving portion 660. The switch 711 may further include a contactportion 713 rotatably coupled to a side of the switch main body 712.When the battery 40 is mounted on the battery mounting portion 60, thecontact portion 713 can come in contact with a protrusion 422 of thebattery 40. The contact portion 713 can be rotated in a first directionby being pressed and elastically deformed by the protrusion 422.

When the contact portion 713 is rotated in the first direction,restoring force can be accumulated in the contact portion 713. When theexternal force applied to the contact portion 713 is removed, thecontact portion 713 can be rotated in a second direction opposite to thefirst direction. The switch 711 may further include a switch terminal714 that transmits power of the battery 40 to at least one of a controlunit 80 and the suction motor 20 when the contact portion 713 is rotatedin the first direction.

The control unit 80 and the switch terminal 714 may be electricallyconnected by a first connector (not shown). The suction motor 20 and theswitch terminal 714 may be electrically connected by a second connector(not shown).

When the contact portion 713 is rotated in the first direction to apredetermined position, the switch terminal 714 can be electricallyconnected to battery terminals 490. Accordingly, the suction motor 20and the control unit 80 can be supplied with power from the battery 40.

When the contact portion 713 is rotated in the second direction to theinitial position, the switch terminal 714 can be connected to thegrounded. Accordingly, the suction motor 20 and the control unit 80 canbe connected to the ground.

The cleaner 1 may further include the control unit 80 that canindividually control the modules in the cleaner 1. To this end, thecontrol unit 80 can be electrically connected to the modules of thecleaner 1.

The control unit 80 may be disposed over (in the figures) the handleunit 3. In other words, the control unit 80 may be disposed close to thesecond extension 320.

A process in which power is supplied to the control unit and the suctionmotor due to mounting and separating of the battery is brieflydescribed.

First, the battery 40 can be mounted in the battery housing 60. Theprotrusion 422 of the battery 40 and the receiving portion 660 of thebattery housing 60 are fitted to each other, and the protrusion 422 canpress the contact portion 713 of the switch 711. When the contactportion 713 is pressed and rotated in the first direction to apredetermined position by the protrusion 422, the battery terminals 490can be connected to at least one of the control unit 80 and the suctionmotor 20 by the switch terminal 715. Accordingly, the power of thebattery 40 can be supplied to at least one of the control unit 80 andthe suction motor 20.

On the contrary, the battery 40 can be separated from the batteryhousing 60. Accordingly, the force pressing the contact portion 713 ofthe switch 711 is removed. Accordingly, the contact portion 713 can berotated in the second direction by the restoring force of the elasticmember 714. Further, the contact portion 713 can be returned to theinitial position.

When the contact portion 713 is returned to the initial position by therestoring force, the suction motor 20 and the control unit 80 can beconnected to the ground. Accordingly, when at least one of the suctionmotor 20 and the control unit 80 has a capacitor, the charge accumulatedin the capacitor can be moved and discharged to the ground.

Accordingly, even though the battery 40 is mounted back into the batteryhousing 60 after separated or the battery 40 that has been charged ismounted in the battery housing 60 after a long time passes, the electricpotential of the suction motor 20 and the control unit 80 may be lowerthan the electric potential of the battery 40. Accordingly, the suctionmotor 20 and the control unit 80 can be easily supplied with power fromthe battery 40.

A process in which the charge of the capacitor of the suction motor isdischarged by operation of the switch.

FIG. 30 is a view showing the configuration of a cleaner power controlcircuit according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 30 , the cleaner 1 may include a power control circuit700 connecting the suction motor 20 and the control unit 80 to thebattery 40.

The power control circuit 700 may include a battery sensing circuit 710that senses that the battery 40 is mounted in the battery housing 60.When mounting of the battery 40 in the battery housing 60 is sensed, thebattery sensing circuit 710 can supply power of the battery 40 to atleast one of the suction motor 20 and the control unit 80.

Further, when separation of the battery 40 from the battery housing 60is sensed, the suction motor 20 and the control unit 80 can be connectedto the ground by the battery sensing circuit 710. Accordingly, a motordriving circuit 720 connected to the suction motor 20 and a mountingsignal generation circuit 730 and a power converter 740 that areconnected to the control unit 80 can be connected to the ground.

Accordingly, when at least one of the motor driving circuit 720, themounting signal generation circuit 730, and the power converter 740 hasa capacitor, the charge accumulated in the capacitor can be moved anddischarged to the ground. The motor driving circuit 720, the mountingsignal generation circuit 730, and the power converter 740 will bedescribed below.

The power management unit 700 may further include the motor drivingcircuit 720 that supplies power for driving the suction motor 20. Themotor driving circuit 720 can reduce noise generated by power of thebattery 40 and can provide a set voltage for driving the suction motor20 to the suction motor 20.

The power control circuit 700 may further include the mounting signalgeneration circuit 730 that generates a mounting signal when mounting ofthe battery 40 is sensed and that transmits power of the battery 40 tothe control unit 80. The mounting signal generation circuit 730 cantransmit the power of the battery 40 to the power converter 740.

The power converter 740 can change the voltage of the battery 40 intovoltage suitable for diving the control unit 80. For example, thecontrol unit 80 can be driven by voltage of 5V. To this end, whenvoltage of 12V is supplied to the power converter 740 from the battery40, the power converter 740 can change the voltage 12V into 5V. Thepower converter 740, for example, may include a regulator.

The state of the cleaner power control circuit that is changed bymounting or separating of the battery into and from the battery housingis described hereafter.

FIG. 31 is a view showing the state of the power control circuit whenthe switch is opened in FIG. 30 .

First, referring to FIG. 31 , the battery sensing circuit 710 mayinclude the switch 711. A side of the switch 711 may be connected to afirst node n1 to which voltage Vb of the battery 40 is applied, and maybe connected to the mounting signal generation circuit 730 and the motordriving circuit 720. In other words, the battery sensing circuit 710,the motor driving circuit 720, and the mounting signal generationcircuit 730 may be connected to the first node n1.

The other side of the switch 711 may be connected to the other side of aswitch resistance 716 having a side connected to the ground.

When the battery 40 is mounted in the battery mounting portion 60, theswitch 711 can be opened. Accordingly, when the battery 40 is mounted inthe battery mounting portion 60, the power of the battery 40 can beconnected to the motor driving circuit 720 and supplied to the suctionmotor 20. Further, the power of the battery 40 can be connected to themounting signal generation circuit 730 and the power converter 740 andsupplied to the control unit 80.

The battery sensing circuit 711 may further include a first resistance716 disposed between the first node n1 and the switch 711 or between theswitch 711 and the ground. Excessive current flowing to the mountingsignal generation circuit 730 can be reduced by the first resistance 716when the switch 711 is closed. Further, it is possible to prevent anexcessive voltage difference between an emitter terminal E and a baseterminal B of a first transistor Q1 disposed in the mounting signalgeneration circuit 730. The operation of closing the switch 711 isdescribed below.

The motor driving motor 720 may include one or more capacitors 721 and722 for removing noise that is generated by power supplied from thebattery 40. The capacitors 721 and 722 each may have a side connected tothe first node n1 and the other side connected to the ground.Accordingly, an AC component noise of the power supplied from thebattery 40 can be accumulated in the capacitors 721 and 722.Accordingly, the noise included in the power transmitted from the motordriving circuit 720 to the suction motor 20 and the control unit 80 canbe reduced.

The motor driving circuit 720 may include a first driving resistance 723that distributes first setting voltage for driving the suction motor 20.The first driving resistance 723 may have a side connected to the firstnode n1 and the other side connected to a second node n2 connected to asecond driving resistance 724 connected to the input side of the controlunit 80 and the ground. Accordingly, the voltage supplied from thebattery 40 can be divided into first distribution voltage Vm1 and seconddistribution voltage Vm2 for driving the suction motor 20. Further, thefirst distribution voltage Vm1 can be supplied to the suction motor 20.Accordingly, the suction motor 20 can be stably driven.

The second distribution voltage Vm2 can be distributed as first signalvoltage Vs1 to be input to the control unit 80 by the second drivingresistance 724. When the first signal voltage Vs1 is input to thecontrol unit 80, the control unit 80 can determine that the suctionmotor 20 can be driven.

The first driving resistance 723 and the second driving resistance 724can be connected between the capacitors 721 and 722 and the suctionmotor 20. Accordingly, power with noise reduced is distributed by thefirst driving resistance 723 and drives the suction motor 20,reliability in the operation of the first suction motor 20 can befurther improved.

The mounting signal generation circuit 730 may include a firsttransistor Q1 that is turned on or off in accordance with opening orclosing of the switch 711 of the battery sensing circuit 710.

The first transistor Q1 may include an emitter terminal E, a baseterminal B, and a collector terminal C. The emitter terminal E may beconnected to the first node n1. When the switch 711 is opened, the powerfrom the battery can be supplied to the emitter terminal E.

The base terminal B of the first transistor Q1 may be connected with athird node N3 connected to the ground. The first transistor Q1 can beturned on when the base terminal B is lower in voltage than the emitterterminal E. A first signal resistance 731 may be disposed between theemitter terminal E and the base terminal B to turn on the firsttransistor Q1. In other words, the first signal resistance 731 may beconnected between the first node n1 and the third node n3. Accordingly,voltage for operating the first transistor Q1 can be supplied to theemitter transistor E by the first signal resistance 731.

The collector terminal C of the first transistor Q1 can be connected toa fourth node n4. When the first transistor Q1 is turned on, the powersupplied from the battery 40 can be transmitted to the fourth node n4.

Meanwhile, the mounting signal generation circuit 730 may furtherinclude a second transistor Q2 that can turn on or off the firsttransistor Q1.

The second transistor Q2 may include a collector terminal C, a baseterminal B, and an emitter terminal E. The collector terminal C of thesecond transistor Q2 can be connected to a fifth node n5. A secondsignal resistance 732 for operating the second transistor Q2 may bedisposed between the third node n3 and the fifth node n5. Accordingly,the second signal resistance 732 is connected to the collector terminalC, so it can be supplied with power distributed by the first signalresistance 731 and the second signal resistance 732. The base terminal Bis connected to the input side of the control unit 80, so it can receivepower for turning on the second transistor Q2 from the control unit 80.The emitter terminal E of the second transistor Q2 may be connected tothe ground.

When the second transistor Q2 is turned on by the control unit 80, thebase B of the first transistor Q1 can be connected to the ground.Accordingly, the first transistor Q1 can be turned on.

The mounting signal generation circuit 730 may further include a secondswitch 735 that enables a user to selectively turn on or off the secondtransistor Q2. A side of the second switch 735 may be connected to thecollector C of the second transistor Q2. In other words, a side of thesecond switch 735 may be connected to the fifth node n5. The other sideof the second switch 735 may be connected to the ground. Accordingly,when a user turns on the second switch 735 after the battery 40 ismounted in the battery housing 60, the second transistor Q2 can beturned on. Further, as the second transistor Q2 is operated, the firsttransistor Q1 can be turned on. On the contrary, when a user turns offthe second switch 735 even though the battery 40 is mounted in thebattery housing 60, the second transistor Q2 can be turned off.Accordingly, the first transistor Q1 can be turned off.

In summary, whether to supply the power of the battery 40 to the controlunit 80 can be selectively determined by a user. Accordingly, it ispossible to prevent consumption of the battery 40 when the cleaner 1 isnot used. Accordingly, a user can reduce power consumption and use thebattery 40 longer.

The second switch 735, for example, may be the operation unit 326 (seeFIG. 3 ) on the handle 30.

The mounting signal generation circuit 730 may further include a thirdsignal resistance 733 that distributes and transmits voltage transmittedto the fourth node n4 to the power converter 740 and the control unit80. The voltage supplied from the battery 40 can be divided into firstdistribution voltage Vc1 for driving the control unit 80 and seconddistribution voltage Vc2 for transmitting a mounting signal to thecontrol unit 80 by the third signal resistance 733. The firstdistribution voltage Vc1 can be transmitted to the power converter 740.

The second distribution voltage Vm2 can be distributed as second signalvoltage Vs2 to be input to the control unit 80 by the fourth signalresistance 734. When the second signal voltage Vs2 is input to thecontrol unit 80, the control unit 80 can determine whether the mountingsignal generation circuit 730 is normally operated.

The power converter 740 can be supplied with power for driving thecontrol unit 80 from the mounting signal generation circuit 730. Thepower may be the first distribution voltage Vc1. The power converter 740can change the voltage of the power transmitted from the mounting signalgeneration circuit 730 into setting voltage for driving the control unit80. The voltage changed by the power converter 740 can be transmitted tothe control unit 80. Accordingly, the control unit 80 can be stablydriven.

FIG. 32 is a view showing the state of the power control circuit whenthe switch is closed.

When the battery 40 is separated from the battery mounting portion 60,the switch 711 can be closed. A motor driving circuit 720 connected tothe suction motor 20 and a mounting signal generation circuit 730 and apower converter 740 that are connected to the control unit 80 can beconnected to the ground. Accordingly, the charge accumulated in thecapacitors 721 and 722 of the motor driving circuit 720 can be moved anddischarged to the ground. Accordingly, the electric potential of themotor driving circuit 720 can drop.

The battery 40 can be operated in a setting mode that decreases firstsetting electric potential of the battery 40 to second setting electricpotential lower than the first setting electric potential in a normalstate in order to reduce natural discharge of the battery 40 whenreference time passes after the battery 40 is separated from the batteryhousing 60 or when reference time passes after the battery 40 is fullycharged on a cradle and then separated from the cradle. The secondsetting electric potential of the battery 40 may be lower than theelectric potential when the capacitors 721 and 722 of the motor drivingcircuit 720 is charged by the battery 40.

Meanwhile, as the battery 40 is separated from the battery housing 40 ofthe cleaner 1, the charge accumulated in the capacitors 721 and 722 canbe fully discharged. Accordingly, even though the battery 40 that isoperated in the setting mode is mounted in the battery housing 60, theelectric potential of the suction motor 20 may be lower than theelectric potential of the battery 40. Accordingly, the suction motor 20can be easily supplied with power from the battery 40.

What is claimed is:
 1. A battery comprising: a frame that defines anexternal shape of the battery, the frame comprising a first frame and asecond frame that is coupled to a lower portion of the first frame; aplurality of battery cells received in the frame, each of the pluralityof battery cells having a longitudinal axis that extends vertically inan extension direction with respect to a ground surface inside of thesecond frame; a battery holder that surrounds the plurality of batterycells, the battery holder including a separation wall that divides theplurality of battery cells into a plurality of rows; a batterymanagement unit configured to manage a voltage of the plurality ofbattery cells, the battery management unit comprising a circuit boardthat is spaced apart from the plurality of battery cells in theextension direction; a barrier that is disposed between the plurality ofbattery cells and the battery management unit, that faces anodes andcathodes of the plurality of battery cells in the extension direction,and that blocks the anodes and the cathodes of the plurality of batterycells from the circuit board; a first coupling portion disposed at afirst side of the second frame, the first coupling portion comprising afirst hook; and a second coupling portion disposed at a second side ofthe second frame, the second coupling portion comprising a second hook,wherein the barrier includes: a plate that is disposed above theplurality of battery cells, and an outer rib that protrudes upward fromthe plate and that extends along an edge of the plate, and wherein thelongitudinal axis of each of the plurality of battery cells crosses thecircuit board and the barrier in the extension direction.
 2. The batteryof claim 1, wherein the plate is disposed inside the first frame.
 3. Thebattery of claim 1, wherein the plate and the circuit board face eachother along the longitudinal axis of the plurality of battery cells. 4.The battery of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of each of theplurality of battery cells crosses the plate.
 5. The battery of claim 1,wherein the plate has a shape corresponding to the circuit board.
 6. Thebattery of claim 1, wherein the plate is disposed below the circuitboard in the extension direction.
 7. The battery of claim 1, wherein thebarrier further includes an anti-deformation rib that extends upwardfrom a top surface of the plate.
 8. The battery of claim 7, wherein thecircuit board is coupled to the barrier, and the anti-deformation rib isin contact with the circuit board.
 9. The battery of claim 8, wherein anupper end of the anti-deformation rib is in contact with a bottomsurface of the circuit board.
 10. The battery of claim 7, wherein theanti-deformation rib is disposed inside the outer rib.
 11. The batteryof claim 1, wherein the barrier further includes a fastening boss thatis fastened to the circuit board by a fastener.
 12. The battery of claim11, wherein the fastening boss protrudes upward from a top surface ofthe plate.
 13. The battery of claim 12, wherein the fastening bossprotrudes higher than the outer rib from the top surface of the plate.14. The battery of claim 12, wherein the barrier further includes aguide projection configured to guide coupling of the circuit board andthe plate.
 15. The battery of claim 14, wherein the guide projectionprotrudes upward from the top surface of the plate.
 16. The battery ofclaim 15, wherein a height of the fastening boss is less than a heightof the guide projection and greater than a height of the outer rib. 17.The battery of claim 14, wherein the fastening boss comprises twofastening bosses, and the guide projection comprises two guideprojections.
 18. The battery of claim 1, wherein the first framecomprises a movement prevention rib that protrudes from an inner side ofthe first frame, and wherein the barrier defines a rib receiving groovethat receives the movement prevention rib.
 19. A battery comprising: aframe that defines an external shape of the battery, the framecomprising a first frame and a second frame that is coupled to a lowerportion of the first frame; a plurality of battery cells received in theframe, each of the plurality of battery cells having a longitudinal axisthat extends vertically in an extension direction with respect to aground surface inside of the second frame; a battery holder thatsurrounds the plurality of battery cells, the battery holder including aseparation wall that divides the plurality of battery cells into aplurality of rows; a battery management unit configured to manage avoltage of the plurality of battery cells, the battery management unitcomprising a circuit board that is spaced apart from the plurality ofbattery cells in the extension direction; a barrier that is disposedbetween the plurality of battery cells and the battery management unit,that faces anodes and cathodes of the plurality of battery cells in theextension direction, and that blocks the anodes and the cathodes of theplurality of battery cells from the circuit board; a first couplingportion disposed at a first side of the second frame, the first couplingportion comprising a first hook; a second coupling portion disposed at asecond side of the second frame, the second coupling portion comprises asecond hook; a top conductor that is disposed above two battery cellsamong the plurality of battery cells in the extension direction and thatis configured to connect the two battery cells to each other; and a topconductive plate connected to the top conductor and connected to thecircuit board, wherein the barrier includes a plate that is disposedabove the plurality of battery cells, the plate defining a guide groovethat receives the top conductive plate, and wherein the longitudinalaxis of each of the plurality of battery cells crosses the circuit boardand the barrier in the extension direction.
 20. A battery comprising: aframe that defines an external shape of the battery, the framecomprising a first frame and a second frame that is coupled to a lowerportion of the first frame; a plurality of battery cells received in theframe, each of the plurality of battery cells having a longitudinal axisthat extends vertically in an extension direction with respect to aground surface inside of the second frame; a battery holder thatsurrounds the plurality of battery cells, the battery holder including aseparation wall that divides the plurality of battery cells into aplurality of rows; a battery management unit configured to manage avoltage of the plurality of battery cells, the battery management unitcomprising a circuit board that is spaced apart from the plurality ofbattery cells in the extension direction; a barrier that is disposedbetween the plurality of battery cells and the battery management unit,that faces anodes and cathodes of the plurality of battery cells in theextension direction, and that blocks the anodes and the cathodes of theplurality of battery cells from the circuit board; a first couplingportion disposed at a first side of the second frame, the first couplingportion comprising a first hook; a second coupling portion disposed at asecond side of the second frame, the second coupling portion comprisinga second hook; a bottom conductor that is disposed below two batterycells among the plurality of battery cells in the extension directionand that is configured to connect the two battery cells to each other; abottom conductive plate connected to the bottom conductor; and a wirethat connects the bottom conductive plate to the circuit board, whereinthe barrier includes a plate that is disposed above the plurality ofbattery cells, the plate defining a wire groove that receives the wire,and wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of batterycells crosses the circuit board and the barrier in the extensiondirection.